Elmore County Living December 2015 by Tallapoosa Publishers

Elmore County Living

Dining across Elmore County

Laser tag at Wetumpka's Skate Zone 2000 Wetumpka Artist Bennie McDonald Football Stars

December 2015 ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

From the Managing Editor's Desk

Allow me to introduce John Peeler who joined the TPI staff in Elmore County as managing editor of The Wetumpka Herald, The Tallassee Tribune and The Eclectic Observer. Originally from Georgia, John is retired military and brings to Elmore County many years of editorial experience with newspapers and magazines. He’s a friendly conversationalist and will be a great asset and a contributor to the community. John was, in fact, a great help with the military aspect of our series about folks moving to Elmore County (page 20) and why. The number of former military personnel who have chosen to retire in Elmore County – more than 1,700 in Millbrook alone – surprised us, and John shed some light on the subject for me. “It doesn’t matter what branch John Peeler joined of service they were in, the facilities the TPI staff in Elmore near the bases are already wellCounty last month. versed in the policies and procedures of military paperwork for things like medical care, and they’re more flexible and familiar with military quirks,” he explained. “And communities with a stable military base usually open their arms to personnel, including retirees.” In addition, the State of Alabama does not tax retirement benefits to former military personnel, which also makes this area attractive. “All of that makes this a good place for military retirees,” he said. I encourage you to stop in and meet John. He works out of the office at 300 Green St., Wetumpka, and will soon complete his relocation from Georgia with his wife and two adorable grandchildren. And while you are out and about, enjoy a great meal experience in Elmore County. We feature some local favorite dining hangouts in this issue, starting on page 24. We’ve enjoyed meeting you at holiday events across the county this month. Check out the photos we’ve collected on pages 48 through 51. We look forward to meeting you Out & About! In the meantime, we wish you the very best of holidays and hope for you a happy and prosperous New Year!

STAFF President & Publisher Kenneth Boone

kenneth.boone@alexcityoutlook.com

Managing Editor Betsy Iler

betsy.iler@alexcityoutlook.com

Assistant Magazine Editor Mia Osborn

mia.osborn@alexcityoutlook.com

Distribution Manager David Kendrick

david.kendrick@alexcityoutlook.com

Marketing Consultant Jayne Carr

jayne.carr@thewetumpkaherald.com

Creative Services Audra Spears

audra.spears@alexcityoutlook.com

Contributors Suellen Young Barry Chrietzberg Jeff Langham Mary K. Moore Willie G. Moseley Carmen Rodgers Jacob Saylor Kevin Taylor Cory Diaz Kathy Monroe Donna Chumley John Peeler Corey Arwood To subscribe to Elmore County Living, $25 a year for 12 issues, please call David Kendrick at 256-234-4281 For Advertising Inquiries 334-567-7811 For Editorial Inquiries 256-234-4281 All content, including all stories and photos, are copyright of

Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 99 300 Green Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 334-567-7811

Betsy Iler, Managing Editor

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER Elmore County's dining options include steaks and seafood at Wetumpka's Our Place.

Photo by Barry Chrietzberg

36 Features

Columns

In Every Issue

Movie Man

Spreading Holiday Cheer

Extra! Extra!

The Gamer

Taking Titles

Business Spotlight

Community Care

Moving to Elmore County

Southern Delights

Eating Out

Wetumpka Artist

52.

45 54

2016 Preview

Unsung Hero

Eat to a Healthy Weight Eggnog

36 38

Tallassee's Window Painter Local Teams Win Big Choosing Home Base

Elmore County Favorites Bennie McDonald

Calendar Girl Pageant Register Now

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News Briefs

Skate Zone 2000

Coming Up

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Out & About

In Elmore County

Where to Find Us Distribution List

To all of our clients in 2015 we thank you for your trust and confidence. 3G Metalworks, Inc. 3 Rivers Alabama River Region Ballet Art Bolin AMCOM ASE Credit Union Ashlyn’s Cake Cottage Children’s Harbor Chilton Surgical Associates The City of Tallassee The City of Wetumpka Cloverdale Jewelers Collier Ford Tallassee Community Hospital Cousins Insurance DeRamus Hearing Center Destinations Travel Eclectic Family Dentistry Edgewood Academy Elmore Community Hospital The Feedsack on the Fairway First Presbyterian Church - Wetumpka First Methodist Church - Wetumpka Friends of the Fort Fort Toulouse The Gab Salon Gassett Funeral Home Gene Jones Agency Health Services, Inc. Holley’s Home Furnishings The Humane Shelter of Elmore County Jackson Thornton Jack’s Seafood Shack James Hamner - Alfa Insurance Jenilyn’s Creations Karen’s Mane Tamers

Kowaliga Whole Health Lake Martin Hospice Lake Martin Realty Lisa Pinson - Lucretia Cauthen Realty Marilyn Winborn Mark’s Service Center New Stone Realty Pat Harden Patrick Mahaney PrimeSouth Bank Quality Home Health Care Nancy Oates - Re/Max Properties Railyard Brewing Company Russell Lands on Lake Martin Russell Marine Scottish Rose Florist Seven Gables Seville Salon Siever’s & Co Simply Shutters & Blinds Singleton’s Alignment Skier & Associates Stone & Britt, LLC Stones Antiques & Flea Mall Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Tallassee Family Dentistry Tallassee Health & Rehab Tallassee Jewelers Thomas Communications, Inc. A Touch of Class The Warehouse The Wedding Center Wee Ones Daycare Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce Wetumpka Depot Players Wetumpka Health & Rehab

From our family at Elmore County Living, we extend our wishes to all for a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.

300 Green Street, Wetumpka, AL 36092 | 334-567-7811 ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Thousands enjoy hallowed version of Craterfest

VFW honors veterans Local Cub Scouts placed American flags on the graves of veterans at Pine View Cemetery Nov. 11 at this year's annual Veteran's Day observance ceremony. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4573, Scouts, U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club and the general public gathered for the tribute to veterans past, present and future during the annual observance of Veterans Day. Mr. Dewey Max Tindell was honored during the event for serving in three wars – World War II, the Korean War and three tours of duty in Vietnam.

For the first time in the history of Craterfest, this year's festivities moved from spring to Halloween, and attendees found it a welcomed change of pace. “Having it on Halloween added a great element of fun and gave us more opportunity to interact with the kids during the costume contest,” said Vanessa Lynch, executive director of the Wetumpka Area Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to the change of date, the number of musical acts was reduced to accommodate the shorter festival time span of four hours. “We found a way to take a challenging situation and turn it into something unique and fun for the community,” Lynch said. “Attendance was better than was expected, and feedback from our venders was very positive.”

ECHS remembers fallen trio Elmore County High School took the time to honor their senior players Oct. 30 during the final game of the season at Burt-Haynie Field in Eclectic. Immediately following the veneration of current seniors, ECHS paid homage to the previous players who recently passed away. “Three members of our community have passed away over the course of a year,” said Wes Rogers, principal of Elmore County High School. “Officer (David) Colley was a 2009 graduate,

Bart Hart was a 1982 graduate, and Grady Rowe was our athletic director, coach and teacher and was a 1975 graduate.” Families of the three were each given a framed football jersey. All three played football at Elmore County High School – Colley (27), Hart (88) and Rowe (40). “All three of them were great players and students … they were all involved in the school, involved in the community, (involved in) games and fund raising,” Rogers said.

History comes alive at Fort Toulouse

Thousands of school-aged children flocked to Fort Toulouse National Historic Park in Wetumpka during the second week of November to learn about early Alabama history during

Alabama Frontier Days. The annual event provides a glimpse of what it was like to be part of early Alabama history through its “living history experience.” “This event is used to inspire an interest in Alabama history in school children, especially the fourth-grade (students) where they learn Alabama History,” said Ove Jensen, park director. The exhibits on display portrayed two specific periods of Alabama history — the French and Indian War and the War of 1812.

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Extra! Extra! News from Elmore County and surrounding areas

THS student to compete for state music title Tallassee High School senior Charlcie Hathorn will compete in March for the title of Alabama's Outstanding Choral Student after making the audition cut for the Birmingham contest. To quality, Hathorn had to submit a resume that included all of her musical and choral participation since middle school and write an essay about the meaning of choral music. She also passed the interview and performance requirements. Hathorn plans to continue her musical studies at the University of North Alabama with a double major in performance and industry. “My crazy little dream is that I want to be a performer. I’ve considered acting and Broadway and such, but I want to sing. I have a wide taste for music. I could see myself going into opera, Broadway and honestly just a general music career,” Hathorn said.

Medical clinic may occupy old amory The Wetumpka City Council authorized City Attorney Regina Edwards to seek the opinion of the attorney general regarding an effort to sublease the former National Guard Armory, which the city currently Owns. Edwards is seeking an opinion to see if the city could lease the clinic to the Elmore County Heath Care Authority, which would in turn

sublease the building to a private entity to provide undisclosed medical services for which area residents currently must obtain outside of Elmore County. “It is a monster project that would be of great use to Wetumpka,” Mayor Jerry Willis said during Monday night’s council meeting. “We are very excited for the possibilities of that facility.”

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Rex retires after 8 years at WPD The City of Wetumpka said goodbye to one of its employees during its city council meeting. After eight years of service, Rex the German Shepherd was granted retirement from the K-9 unit for the Wetumpka Police Department. Rex served the department in many roles, from sniffing out drugs to finding people lost in the woods. “He has done a lot of things the general public has never seen him do,” said Sgt. Darrell Spraggins, who served as Rex’s keeper. Upon his retirement, Rex was allowed to become Spraggins’ personal pet. “I would like to thank the council for allowing me to take this dog home with me,” Spraggins said. “He is like one of my own kids.”

Skate Zone 2000

here’s an old saying that if you do something you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” said Sherry Cole. “We don’t work.” Cole and her husband, Charles, have run Skate Zone 2000 in Wetumpka since 1999. The business started as a way to keep their family together. Originally from Selma, the two have been married for more than three decades. They discovered how much they loved working together when they ran a convenience store in Titus, Alabama. The business was called Kim’s Korner Store, after their daughter. The couple had managed Kim’s for 10 years when they heard of a large warehouse-style building for rent just off Highway 231 in Wetumpka. They began to brainstorm ideas for another business the family could share. “We thought of so many things, down to windshield crack repair,” Cole said. “We thought of anything because we wanted to stay working together.” The Coles finally hit on the idea of a skating rink, and they never looked back. In the last 16 years, Skate Zone 2000 has become a much-needed haven where Wetumpka’s teens and kids can hang out safely with their friends. Skate Zone 2000 is a true family affair, down to the employees. The Coles’ two children helped them renovate the building, and their teenaged grandson, Caleb, does odd jobs around the business and acts as referee during skate games on the rink floor. In 2004, the Coles purchased the Skate Zone 2000 building, and when the business with which they shared the space moved out earlier this year, they found themselves with even more room to play. “We said to each other, ‘what can we do for the kids?’” Cole said. “We thought laser tag would bring

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Business Spotlight

Laser tag players pose in front of Skate Zone's mural of an alien spaceship

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in the full crowd, including adults. Adults love it as much as the children do.” The laser tag arena held its grand opening in October 2015. Wetumpka Mayor Jerry Willis and chamber of commerce members attended to play an inaugural round. Most Friday nights, both the laser tag arena and skating rinks are packed with kids. Confident skaters zoom around the large rink as pop music blares. Small skaters and those who are still learning can practice on a separate, smaller rink on the other side of the building. Between the two rinks is a concrete floor dotted with pool tables and arcade games. Skates can be worn throughout the building, except in the laser tag arena, which dominates the back wall with a mural of an alien spaceship. Artist Brian Roman, who has also worked for Disney, painted the mural entirely freehand. Cole wove through the shifting crowd of skaters with practiced ease. Wherever she went, she was greeted by a chorus of, “Hey, Miss Sherry!” Kids skated over to hug her before rolling on their way. “It’s just a big family here. I get on to them like they’re my own kids,” Cole laughed. Many of these kids also attend Skate Zone 2000’s afterschool and summer daycare programs. Cole said the benefit

of working in a small town is that she gets to know her regulars and their families. “Just because there are not many parents in here doesn’t mean they don’t care about their children,” Cole explained. “They know we’re going to treat them like our own, and if they’re doing something they shouldn’t, they know I’m going to get on the phone and call their momma and daddy.” During the school year, Skate Zone 2000 picks up 5-year-olds through 12-year-olds directly from Wetumpka and Redland schools. The kids enjoy a snack and a Christian devotional and are given time to do their homework. Cole said she keeps a close eye on the kids’ grades to determine which ones are allowed to skate. “They can’t be below a ‘C,’ and a ‘C’ means they have to have applied themselves,” said Cole. “It’s a great incentive for them.” The Coles have devoted themselves to serving the Wetumpka community through their business, but they don’t consider it work. “It’s such a pleasure to see families coming in here together,” Cole said. Skate Zone 2000 is open Friday nights 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Sundays 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visit the Skate Zone 2000 Facebook page. Junior skaters practice in a designated rink

The skate floor is crowded with kids every weekend

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Sherry and Charles Cole opened Skate Zone to give back to the Wetumpka community while working together

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Kristy Dean dresses store windows with Christmas cheer

Spreading holiday cheer one window at a time Story & Photos by Carmen Rodgers

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allassee’s Kristy Dean spreads holiday cheer all through town one window at a time. Those festive snowmen and other caricatures on the town’s storefronts are Dean’s artwork, and she has found that it helps to put folks in the spirit of the season. During the holidays, Dean spends many hours painting the festive holiday caricatures on the windows of area storefronts, and she’s created a name for herself – quite by accident, she said. Originally from Perry, Georgia, Dean met her husband there and moved to Tallassee when he took a job with GKN. “We were on a long road trip to Michigan,” Dean said. “That’s where my husband’s family lives. It’s a 17-hour drive, and I was bored; so I grabbed some paper, and I looked over and saw a picture of Santa Claus and I said, ‘I am going to draw him.’ When I was I finished I was actually amazed at how much it looked like him. It looked more like a caricature or a cartoon, but it still resembled him and I thought, ‘Wow this is neat.’” Dean drew a variety of subjects at first, including famous people. “I started drawing celebrities. I drew George W. Bush and other popular celebrities. Then I read a book on how to draw from the right side of the brain. It taught about shifting your focus from actually looking at it as an object and just looking at the lines that you see,” said the artist. It was Dean’s daughter who opened the door to window painting. “My oldest daughter was working at Factory Connection, and there was a man who used to paint Christmas windows, but he did not come that last year. I had heard that he had gotten a fulltime job and had quit painting windows. I talked to Pam at Factory Connection and asked if anyone had offered to paint the windows for Christmas and she said, ‘No.’ I said I’d like to do it and I’ll charge what the other man charged for the same deal. She thought that was great,” Dean said. That fall four years ago, Dean realized other retail-

After sketching her designs, Dean applies window paint in layers

ers might also need a window painter, so she made the route about town offering her services. “The next business that I went to was the Apothecary Pharmacy, and I was showing them some of my sketches that I had drawn out on paper and they actually wanted me to do a Thanksgiving/fall painting for them. So that was my very first one, even though Factory Connection got me started.” During the past four years Dean’s list of window paintings has grown. “I did Little Caesars, Alabama Power, Dairy Queen, Hornsby and Sons Body Shop and at one time, I did Parker Tire. I do as many as I can get done before the season is over,” Dean said. “I get the joy of Christmas, and I tell you something else,” Dean said. “It brings joy to other people that I don’t even know. Last night, as I was painting, it was kind of cold and this lady came by. She had her little boy get out of the car and bring me a large cup of coffee and he said, ‘This is to warm you up.’ I thought that was the sweetest thing.” Since her initial foray into window painting four years ago, Dean has expanded her season to accommodate fundraising events and other projects, such as murals. She can be reached at 334-991-0319.

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Taking Titles

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Edgewood Academy football players hoist their sixth consecutive state trophy

Story by Cory Diaz & Carmen Rodgers Photos by Cory Diaz & Donna Chumley ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Tallassee's sophomore team celebrates being No. 1

cross Elmore County, four teams last month brought home top titles, including the Edgewood Academy Wildcats who won their sixth straight state championship. The Wildcats beat the Marengo Academy Longhorns in a 40-34 victory that set the Alabama high school record for consecutive titles. The game turned into a dogfight with the 10-2 Longhorns demanding a consistent effort from Edgewood's 13-0 'Cats. “It was a team effort," said Bobby Carr, Edgewood's head football coach. "Champions always find a way to be the last one standing." The win streak extended the nation's longest active high school football winning streak to 71 games. The penchant for taking titles in Elmore County starts early – as early as 5 years old in the Tallassee Youth Football League where all four divisions from age 5 to age 12 advanced to the playoffs, and the senior boys brought home a state championship. Completing its third year as a member of the East Alabama Youth Football League, the Tallassee teams played six-game regular seasons against Reeltown, Eclectic, Dadeville, Tuskegee, Loachapoka and Horseshoe Bend (New Site), with the 7-8-year-old sophomores and 11-12-year-old seniors finishing undefeated. At the playoffs in Alexander City Nov. 14, three of the

four age divisions won titles. The sophomores won their championship game 21-6 over Reeltown to cap a perfect 8-0 season, and the juniors avenged their only loss of the year – to Reeltown – beating the Rebels 19-7 to finish 8-1 and repeating as division champions. The final game of the day saw the seniors repeat as champions, defeating Dadeville 32-19. The youth league cheer competition was held Saturday morning before the football games began, with Tallassee’s junior squad taking first place in its division, while the freshman, sophomore and senior Tiger teams each placed second in their divisions. Individual medalists from Tallassee were freshmen Abbi Carwile (1st) and Emileigh Williams (3rd) and sophomore Chloe Smith (1st). Sophomore coach Mark Bell said while many factors contributed to the champion-level play, consistency was the most important. “I think it’s a combination of things. We have had a real stable group of leadership in our youth football organization over the past three or four years, which in return has resulted in a stable group of coaching,” Bell said. “We’re not having a group of people come and go every year. Everything they did last year, they did more of this year.” Bell said this stability has helped to grow the program, and the winning streak has created a momentum that only continues to strengthen with time.

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Changing face of Elmore County In this second article of a three-part series, Elmore County Living talked with U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Mara Donovan (ret.) who recently chose to retire in Wetumpka. Because of its proximity to Maxwell Air Force Base, Elmore County is home to more than 2,300 military retirees with 1,782 living in Millbrook and nearly 500 in Wetumpka. From community reception and support to quality of life and a great place to raise children, Elmore County offers a variety of benefits for veterans. In turn, veterans purchase homes, pay taxes and support the local economy. "It's a two-way street," Donovan told us. "I don't think I would live anywhere else."

Mara Donovan Choosing Elmore County as Home Base Interview by Mia Osborn Photo by Barry Chrietzberg Mara Donovan retired from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of lieutenant colonel. Her military service spanned three decades, after which she chose to retire and settled in Wetumpka. Where are you from? I’m from Baltimore. I went to officer training school right out of college. I was commissioned in 1980 as a second lieutenant. I now have 35 years, 22 in uniform. I retired as a lieutenant colonel. I traveled up the ranks, and I traveled all over the world. Why join the military? I majored in history, and I wanted to teach history, but you need a master’s degree to teach at the college level. I was tired of being a broke student, because I put myself through college. My father’s

brother was a pilot in Vietnam, so he had me go talk to him about tuition assistance. When he said that I should join, I thought of Army guys crawling through the dirt, so I just laughed. But I took his advice and went and saw the recruiter. I got my commission, and it was the best thing that I ever did. What if you hadn’t joined? I would not have seen the world. I probably would not have my children. They’re both from China. Hannah was 9 and a half months old, and three years later, I went back and adopted Haley who was 12 months old. Now they’re 17 and 14. I credit God and the military for it. People in the military really see no color. We see no ethnicity, because we’re all thrown in together.

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Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Mara Donavan (ret.) served for 22 years before she chose to settle in Wetumpka

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What was your first assignment? I graduated from officer training school, and at my first job, I was in charge of 80 people. I was at a fighter base in North Carolina, and I was the mobility officer. I didn’t even know how to spell mobility. But I learned real quick. The mobility officer is responsible for ensuring the readiness of the base, in case we have to pack up. My job was to train all the units to pack up their equipment, pack up their people, have all the proper records, get on the plane and get to the fight. As a woman, how was your experience different? I came in when Reagan was building up the military. The most unique thing in this particular time was there were a lot of female recruits and new female lieutenants. We ran all the support areas of the base. Because there were so few of us, we stuck together and told each other what worked and what didn’t. You had to work harder. You had to look sharper in that uniform and do twice as much work while you wore it. And if that meant working until eight o’clock at night, that’s what you did. Our bosses took notice of it. What was the hardest part? Moving. The moving was fun, but it was also gut-wrenching every time you had to pick up. You had this circle of support; you had friends. When I was coming up, we had more money, so officers moved every two years. So you got to a place, you learned the ropes, and right when you’re feeling settled, they up and moved you. What have you learned? I’ve been everywhere. The one thing I learned is that no matter what country I was in, if it was a third world country, like the Philippines, or a nice rich country, like Germany, everybody wants the same things. They want to be secure. They want happiness. And they want their children to be safe. How has the military changed? I would say the biggest difference is relationships due to the boom in technology. The expansion of technology has made our young folks more equipped to work alone, and that’s a good thing. The big old Cloud up there has connected the world, but it’s also kind of disconnected relationships between people, especially coworkers.

What advice would you give young people thinking about the military? Going into the military gives you self-fulfillment. It matures you. It’s a great career. You’re thrown in the midst of every kind of diverse group you can imagine. It gives you an early opportunity for leadership, way before a corporation would give you. How did you end up in Wetumpka? The Air Force sent me to Maxwell Air Force Base three times on three different assignments. After the third assignment, I had just adopted Hannah. When she was one and a half the Air Force said, ‘You’re number one on the remote list to go to Korea.’ That means you’ve got to go by yourself for a year. And I had just adopted this little baby. So I had enough years in, and I said, ‘Well, they’ve sent me here three times. This is home!’ I retired. But I still, the very next day, went back to work for the Air Force in civilian clothes. What are you doing now? I’m over at Gunter now, in the great big world of computers at LCMC, the Life Cycle Management Center. What I’m doing now is totally different from anything I did when I was in uniform. I’m in financial analysis. That’s a really neat point about the military. You don’t go to the same job every time you move. You’ll learn; you always do. We say flexibility is the key to air power. It’s the same thing in our jobs. You have to be flexible. What do you do for fun? I like the Wetumpka Depot Players. It’s our local community theatre, and it’s outstanding. Year before last, they took a show to New York to a competition. They won number two in the nation. Everybody I know has done a show just to have fun. How do you like the community? This community is extremely supportive of the troops, whether we’re retired or in uniform. I love Elmore County’s size. We all know each other. Right here in this one cul-de-sac, we’ve got six households that are retired military still providing support and productivity to this community. All of us have decided that this is where we want to stay, raise our kids, provide revenue back to the community. It’s a two-way street. I don’t think I would live anywhere else.

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Our Place Café offers diners a touch of Big Easy décor

Dining Out:

Our Place Story by Kevin Taylor Photos by Barry Chrietzberg 24

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f you turn up Company Street and go off the beaten track in Wetumpka, you’ll find a bit of Big Easy casual elegance at Our Place Café, a charming upscale destination restaurant since 2001. David and Mona Funderburk opened the steak and seafood restaurant at 809 Company St. 15 years ago and take pride in treating their customers like family. “We treasure our customers, and it’s our duty to take care of them from the time they walk through that door to join us until they walk back out that door to their car,” said David Funderburk. The restaurant leans toward New Orleans, as Funderburk grew up on the cuisine visiting his aunts there, and the exposed brick walls and leather upholstery mimic the French Quarter style. Funderburk just wants diners to be comfortable and enjoy a great, unhurried experience with excellent food. “We take pride in leaning toward the New Orleans style,” he said. “We aren’t a city restaurant. People drive from miles out of the way to have dinner with us.” Open 4:30 p.m. to about 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, Our Place does a robust business, especially December through February, and reservations are not accepted. ‘Must try’ menu items include the crab cakes, fried green tomatoes with shrimp, the ribeye and red snapper, according to reviews online. This isn’t a restaurant where

Owner David Funderburk takes pride in treating customers like family

you’ll be rushed through the meal in front of television tuned to the week’s sports highlights but rather one in which to celebrate anniversaries, engagements, special occasions and special friends. Service is good but not intrusive, and prices are moderately upscale. Dinner for two with appetizers, entrée and table wine could cost in the neighborhood of $100. Prior to opening Our Place, Funderburk managed the restaurant at Hotel Talisi for five years, but he’s been on the local dining scene for 35 years. The building once housed a neighborhood grocery business but now exhibits all the charm of a jazzy New Orleans café, including loft dining, low lights and formal table settings. “Our customers have become part of our family and that’s how we treat them – just like they are part of our family.”

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Reclaimed timbers and siding helped renovate the space that once was a neighborhood grocery store

Dining Out:

1220 Café

Noah and Pam Griggs love the restaurant business lifestyle in their hometown

Story by Carmen Rodgers Photos by Barry Chrietzberg

or the fast casual crowd, veteran restaurateur Noah Griggs three years ago opened 1220 Café at 1220 Gilmer Ave. in Tallassee after a 30plus year career at the corporate level with Hardee’s. Since its opening, 1220 Café has grown in popularity for its good food, friendly service and a place to meet and greet friends and newcomers. “I grew up in Tallassee, started at the Hardee’s here when I was 16. It was a summer job, and that lead me into the restaurant business. I did that for 30-plus years. I ran U.S. operations for the Hardee’s brand,” said Griggs. “The restaurant business is a lifestyle, and I enjoy it. I enjoy serving people and watching them get joy out of food.” The 1220 menu includes gourmet sandwiches, artisan breads, seafood tacos and a “blue plate” lunch with meat and three. They also serve signature coffees and are adding other seafood options to the menu as well. “I think we have something for

everyone,” Griggs said. The cozy atmosphere at 1220 includes stonework and a fireplace with large leather chairs for lounging. Diners also can eat under umbrellas on the outdoor patio. After following the corporate trail from South Carolina to California and many places in between, Griggs and his wife, Pam, returned to their hometown to open a restaurant of their own. Since opening the café in 2012, Griggs has made a point of supporting the community and being involved in local events. “Growing up in the community you recognize the importance of community and of being connected and giving back,” said Griggs. “Living in corporate America, it is so big, you can lose touch with Outdoor dining community. It’s not only options are popular important to be conwith customers nected and give back, it also builds relationships and we help one another, especially in a town this size.” Though local, the restaurant draws patrons from miles around, and 1220 Café has become a favorite to both in-town

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patrons and others who visit the area on a regular basis. “The community – Notasulga, Eclectic, Wetumpka, Montgomery and even Auburn – have supported us, and it continues to build because we are not just drawing Tallassee, we’re drawing a broader circle,” said Griggs. Tasty, fresh and healthy options make up the menu, with the addition of popular desserts. “We make almost everything from scratch. David Butler makes our cookies. The pecan pie and pound cake was my mom’s recipe. I have a good friend of mine in St. Louis who gave me some of her recipes. Those cookies, there are days where we sell 100 or more,” said Griggs. Open 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday, Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. and Thursday and Friday until 9 p.m., 1220 Café opens at 6 a.m. on Saturday and serves until 8:30 p.m. For information, call 334-252-1220.

Dining Out:

Coaches Corner

e first and be different. That’s what Coaches Corner Sports Bar & Grill owners John and Karen Maddaloni set out to do when they opened the restaurant in downtown Wetumpka seven years ago. “Somebody told me in the food business when I first started, ‘the key to a restaurant is be first and be different,’” Maddaloni said. “So we were the first and we were different.” John Maddaloni led the Wetumpka High School Indians football team to the Class 5A state semifinals in 1995, and he brings that same winning spirit to the restaurant at 203 Orline

Story by Cory Diaz Photos by Barry Chrietzberg Street. “The coolest thing is we’re more or less like a local gathering place. I know for me personally, the coolest thing has always been that I get to see people that were important in my coaching career that I know I wouldn’t see if I wasn’t sitting right here. Former players, teachers, former parents. I love that. That’s the best thing about it all,” said Maddaloni. Located in the heart of downtown Wetumpka, Coaches Corner features a 3,000-square foot dining area, a scenic deck that overlooks the Coosa River, a game room for the kids and a banquet room for special parties and events. Drawing inspiration from the Gulf Coast, Maddaloni occasionally fea-

Former WHS Coach John Maddaloni welcomes customers to the Coaches Corner gathering place

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tures live music, but with more than 55 entrees on the menu, the food is the main attraction. “We’re not fast food. We don’t cook anything until you order it. So people have to wait. But my thing was to have enough stuff going on so they don’t mind the wait,” he said. Coaches Corner is best known for the Buffalo wings. There are 16 different flavors, ranging from the hottest, Flavor 911, to Boomyaki and Hoo Doo. On Thursdays, Coaches Corner hosts 50-cent wing night, but Maddaloni encourages patrons to arrive early to get a table. “We sell a lot of wings; we definitely sell more wings than anything. I wanted to be a place that had a little more diversity about it,” Maddaloni said. “I always thought I didn’t want to limit being a place where you go to get just that one thing. “Your girlfriend may want a steak, and you may want wings. Well, we’re the perfect place. We got both. You can try to have a little bit of this or a little bit of that.” In addition to wings, the menu features a variety of burgers, sandwiches and wraps, salads and sides. Most lunch offerings are under $10, and dinner entrees, including seafood, chicken and steaks, are under $20. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. For information, call 334452-3830 or visit the website at www. coachescornerbarandgrill.com.

Wind Creek Hospitality offers a signature entertainment experience with dinner at the Fire Steakhouse and top-name performances at the auditorium

Dining Out:

FIRE

Wind Creek Casino offers guests dinner and a show 28

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Story by Mia Osborn Photos by Kenneth Boone and courtesy of Wind Creek Hospitality ELMORE COUNTY LIVING

Fire's private dining room provides a view of the Coosa River

he name Wind Creek Wetumpka conjures up a lot of images: bright lights on rows of colorful machines; the whirl of laughter and music in the 85,000 square foot gaming area; a bounty of coins rushing out of a slot like pirate treasure. But the hotel and casino complex has something to offer everyone, even those who don’t come to win the jackpot. Wind Creek offers a range of entertainments designed to make every guest feel like a winner, including a first-rate steakhouse and an entertainment center unlike anything else found in the river region. There are several dining options at Wind Creek, including a buffet, a casual grill and The Chilly Bean for coffee and pastries. But for those who want a truly elegant experi-

ence, FIRE Steakhouse is the way to go. The restaurant is only a short stroll from the chaotic energy of the casino, but it feels like another world. Separated from the bustle of the main floor by heavy glass doors, Fire’s high-ceilinged and columned dining area is hushed and private. Full-length windows lining two walls offer diners a view of the Coosa River. A private dining room and two-story wine cuvee with a rolling ladder are available at the rear of the restaurant. General Manager Thomas Altamura said the dining experience at FIRE brings guests from all around the South. “We have guests that drive down specifically from Birmingham, Columbus and Atlanta just for the restaurant,” said Altamura. FIRE is a popular destination

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for birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasion dinners. Guests come for the atmosphere as well as the food. Menu options range from hearty entrées, such as mustard crusted rack of lamb and bison ribeye, to lighter fare, including poached pear salad and grilled Atlantic salmon. But of course, the main draw is the steak. “We have the best prime steaks in Alabama,” Altamura said. As steaks go, FIRE has everything from a tender filet mignon to a huge, 14-ounce New York strip, all cut from the highest grade of USDA-certified beef. In addition to the recently redesigned menu, FIRE's weekday specials entice customers who want to save their cash for the casino. “We’re always reinventing ourselves,” said Cathye Ross Amos, director of marketing.

This spirit of reinvention extends from the restaurant into the casino’s Entertainment Center. The entertainment center, which seats 1,200, is the only one of its kind in Elmore County. “We’re as competitive as any other gaming market when it comes to our entertainment offerings,” said Amos. “The majority of the shows are sold out well in advance of the show dates.” The Entertainment Center hosts at least one major concert per month. Famous performers, such as Willie Nelson and Charlie Wilson, have been featured, and Wind Creek will host acapella group Boyz II Men in late January. In November, the Entertainment Center branched away from musical guests when comedian Chris Tucker brought his stand-up routine to Wind Creek. “There was a tremendous response to that show,” said Amos. “We hope to do some other things along that line.” While most of the star power at Wind Creek is focused on the Entertainment Center, Amos was

quick to add that there are plenty of other acts, which can be seen on the public stage in the casino free of charge. On weekends, the public stage features musical acts, while marketing promotions and other events are featured during

the week. “There’s something going on every day here,” she said. Whether it’s fine dining or a great concert, Wind Creek is designed to offer a winning moment for everyone.

Colorful cocktails are the perfect cap to a festive holiday dinner

Charlie Wilson performs at the Wind Creek Entertainment Center

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Dining Out:

Plantation House Story by Mia Osborn & Photos by Suellen Young

Plantation House diners enjoy a mix of Southern and German fare

ike the restaurant’s German/Southern decor, the food at Plantation House is a mixture of two traditions. The daily menu is full of Southern classics, but on Friday nights, Germany native Renate (pronounced Renata) Lindsey hosts a German-style feast. German food is also available throughout the month of October. Lindsey said she hopes to have a license to sell beer by next October, so Plantation House can have a proper Oktoberfest celebration. Both house and owner of the Plantation House and Garden in Millbrook were uprooted from their original homes, and the story of how they arrived at such a tasty combination of culinary traditions on Grandview Road is as storybook as the beer

steins and belles décor. In her home country, Lindsey was a chef, but she joined the military in search of a change in direction. She trained as a carpenter and went to work for the German Army. There, she met her American Air Force husband, with whom she moved to Millbrook, Alabama, 20 years ago. Upon her arrival, Lindsey started in America where she’d left off in Germany – as a carpenter. One day, she was hired to close off the fireplaces at Miss Mary’s restaurant in Millbrook. Lindsey arrived on the job to find the restaurant owner in a state of panic: Miss Mary’s cook had not shown up for work. In desperation, the owner asked Lindsey if she could cook. She had turned to just the right person for the job. What began as one day of emergency

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kitchen help led Lindsey to nine years at Miss Mary’s. She eventually took over ownership of the business but was bothered by the fact that she still had to rent the building. Lindsey knew she wanted to create a unique restaurant in a place all her own, but she didn’t know where to look. With the help of a Realtor who was a Miss Mary’s customer, Lindsey discovered a beautiful two-story home on Plantation Oaks Boulevard just outside of downtown Millbrook. Built in 1934 with classical Southern architecture, the house had belonged to the Cobb family for many years. Lindsey loved the house right away, but she worried about how much it would cost. That’s when her Realtor dropped the bomb: The whole house was about to be torn down to make room for the new Plantation

Oaks subdivision. If Lindsey could get the house off the lot, she could have it for free. Lindsey hired a crew of workers to jack up the house and move it a quarter mile down Grandview Road to its current location. Then she dusted off her carpenter’s toolbox and got to work creating the restaurant of her dreams. The nearly singled-handed renovation and restoration took two years. According to Lindsey, most of the work was not about building on top of the original home but revealing the beauty that was already there. She stripped away layers of carpet and tile to reveal the original tongue-in-groove hardwood floors. She knocked down closets and walls to create two open-plan dining rooms on either side of the kitchen, which was also expanded and updated with modern restaurant equipment. She built the columned, wraparound porch and dotted it with a colorful array of tables and chairs for outdoor dining and socializing. The decor at Plantation House is a nod to the building’s past as well as Lindsey’s heritage. Antique portraits of Southern belles share wall space with collections of German beer steins. Outside, a statue of a grinning alligator sits on a Greek-style pedestal in a corner of the porch, shaded by one of many climbing plants, which add charm and privacy for outside diners. Lindsey does all of the cooking at Plantation House. She said cooking Southern food was a patchwork skill that she picked up over her years in the United States. “I had to learn from many different people,” she said. One of the toughest lessons to learn was the making of casseroles, which are not found in traditional German cooking. “In Germany, we don’t do squash casserole or anything like that. It’s more steamed vegetables. I had to switch gears and think Southern,” she said. Her efforts paid off. Today, her hot pineapple casserole is a beloved Plantation House staple. Lindsey said she has come to appreciate food. Her favorite item on the Plantation House menu is the fried chicken, which she marinates for two full days before cooking to let the spices soak into

Fresh vegetables on the buffet

Relax on the wraparound porch

Fried chicken is always a popular menu item

the meat. In addition to regular hours and menu offerings at the restaurant, Plantation House offers catering services, and the garden area is available for parties and weddings. Lindsey caters events off the premises as well. She can even cook on the go with the Schnitzel Wagon, a modified delivery truck. Plantation House provides food for holiday parties at several local businesses, including

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bakeries and Bass Pro Shops. In-house and catering menus are posted on the restaurant’s website. Plantation House is open for lunch from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. On Thursdays and Fridays, the restaurant is open for dinner from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. For more information, visit the website at www.plantationhouseandgardens.com.

Dining Out:

Bon Appetit Story by Mia Osborn Photos by Suellen Young

Bloody Marys with pickled vegetables and grilled shrimp at a Bon Appetit event

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n the heart of Millbrook’s downtown, Brenda Fryer is transforming an old building into an intimate event space. Bon Appetit Catering & Events, LLC, is reviving the building at 5090 Main St. and bringing new life to Fryer’s career at the same time. Bon Appetit opened in mid-October, but Fryer has been catering for about four years. “I love to cook, always have,” said Fryer. After she retiring from a medical technician position in Montgomery, she never imagined that her hobby would leave the home kitchen and become a second career. That is, until her church hosted a silent auction. One of the prizes was a five-course gourmet meal, and the church needed someone to cater it. Fryer signed on to help, and the event was so successful that she got her catering license and began working events for The Elms, an antebellum venue in Coosada. She first thought of starting her own catering business about a year ago. “I was working out of someone else’s kitchen, and she closed her facility. So I knew I had to open my own kitchen or find another,” said Fryer. “This building had been available for about three years, and I just kept thinking about it. “We don’t have anything else like this in Millbrook. We have the Civic Center, which is very nice, but it’s huge,” Fryer explained. “For someone who wants a small event, to rent that big space and make it intimate is hard.” Fryer and Louie decided to make the leap and lease the building. They spent about four months before the opening working with electricians and plumbers to make sure the space was up to code, as well as redecorating. “We’ve completely redone it,” said Fryer. “It had been a restaurant at one time, so the kitchen was there, but there was no equipment, just the room.”

The Fryers remodeled their spacious new kitchen with all new appliances. They also painted, updated the floors and brought in new furniture. Fryermasterminded every step of the redecoration process. In Bon Appetit’s main room, she created an understatedly elegant space with metallic chairs and sparkling drapes to separate the dining room from the proposed bar area. “It’s coming together slowly. The bar is being built right now,” said Fryer. The bar and a new table will be made from rippled tin, designed to complement the classy modern vibe throughout the space. In the future, she plans to expand business further by creating an outdoor element complete with seating and a fire pit. The Bon Appetit building currently seats about 50 people. That’s perfect for small rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, bridal teas and other private events that Fryer believes will be Bon Appetit’s bread and butter. The building can be rented with or without Fryer’s catering services, and Fryer can also be hired to plan events at other locations. Fryer said her family has been a constant source of support, both emotionally and with the day-to-day tasks of catering. Her two sisters, brother-inlaw and especially her husband help with events.

“I couldn’t do it without him,” said Fryer of her husband. “He’s my meat carver, my potato man, my shrimp boiler, everything!” After being open for less than a week, the Bon Appetit headquarters had already hosted a club meeting. In addition, Fryer had several other events lined up for the holiday season, including a Mistletoe and Martinis party in December. Her work at The Elms has given her a variety of experiences from which to draw from for the success of her solo business. “The presentation of the food is really important to me. I like for the table to be set to where it’s absolutely breathtaking,” said Fryer. For information, visit Bon Appetit on Facebook or call 334-462-0858. Owner Brenda Fryer

Muted metallic tones make a tasteful splash in the dining area

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Wetumpka Artist Bennie McDonald

Story by Mia Osborn Photos by Suellen Young

y the time she arrived at the Gardens of Wetumpka assisted living community, Bennie McDonald had already led a full life. The longtime educator, wife and mother came to the Gardens to spend her twilight years in peace. She didn’t count on discovering a hidden talent that would open new doors and give her a new lease on life. It all started shortly after she arrived, when Activities Director Debra Cartee led the residents of the Gardens in a painting class. “Debra put up a painting and told us to paint one like it,” said McDonald. “She said mine was the nearest. I said, I never have painted in my life!” Despite never having picked up a brush, McDonald proved to have an artist’s eye for detail and balance. She soon began painting in her room on her own time. Now aged 99, McDonald has produced more paintings than she can count. The Gardens of Wetumpka’s front room features a row of her artwork along one wall; more pieces are arranged on the wall just outside her door. In 2011, McDonald’s work was displayed at the Alabama River Region Arts Center Gallery. Most of her work is done on small, flat canvases using acrylic paint. Subjects range from flowers to birds to Christian imagery, though McDonald is happy to paint just about anything. “I mostly paint what people ask me to paint,” she explained. “I’ve sold I don’t know how many Aubies and Big Als. At football season, I’ve got a big demand for them.” McDonald sells her paintings for $20 each, but she’s not in it for the money. “I really don’t make anything because I buy my canvas

and paints with it. So I more or less paint for fun,” she said. McDonald was raised in East Tallassee. She attended both Auburn and Montevallo universities before going to work for the Elmore County school system, where she taught ninth grade science and also acted as teaching principal. She married Bross McDonald in 1937. McDonald and her husband never painted together, but she said they bonded over a different art form: music. “He could play the violin beautifully, all by ear,” she recalled. “I was taking violin lessons when we married. I would squeak and squawk. He tried to help me, but I couldn’t play by ear and he couldn’t read notes!” The pair was married for 67 years before Bross McDonald passed away in 2004. They have three children, five grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. Photographs of McDonald’s family brighten her room at the Gardens, along with paintings done by her grandchildren and friends. McDonald’s own work is less visible, kept to a corner work area with a comfy chair, a bright lamp, and a nightstand crowded with a rainbow of acrylic paint tubes. “I paint a little every day,” she said. She divides her time between painting and her other passion, gardening. She tends to an array of potted flowers and shrubs spread out in front of the building that contains her room.

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McDonald works from a studio in the corner of her Gardens of Wetumpka room; (Below) Images of nature and wildlife inspire many of her paintings McDonald’s window overlooks her plants and provides her a view of the bird feeder she put up above the garden. It’s emptied for winter now, but in warm weather McDonald enjoys sitting outside in one of the Gardens’ rocking chairs and letting the feathered visitors who come to eat inspire her paintings. She especially loves hummingbirds. Looking back, McDonald said she only wishes that she had known about her artistic ability sooner. “I hired a painter to teach my students how to paint while I did book work. If I had known I could paint, I would have taught them myself,” she said.

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Calendar Girl Pageant Wetumpka's Taylor Riannon Young took the Miss January title at the 2015 Calendar Girl Pageant competition

egistration is open to Elmore County entrants for the 2016 Miss Outlook Calendar Girl Pageant, which will be held January 22 and 23 at the Benjamin Russell High School Auditorium in Alexander City. This year’s pageant features a ‘Classic Black and White,’ theme. “It’s classy and elegant,” said Elisha Smith, the

pageant’s Central Alabama Community College representative. Top prize for the pageant, which for more than 40 years has helped young women to build careers and lead the community forward, is a full two-year Ambassador Scholarship from Central Alabama Community College. “With the rising cost of education, having a scholarship will help these young women achieve their dreams,” said Smith.

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Additional prizes each year have included gift certificates from local boutiques. The winners each of the pageant’s four age divisions also are called upon to represent the community at public functions, such as parades and other events. Competition includes an on-stage introduction and an interview with the judges. “The pageant helps young women build up confidence in themselves,” said Smith. “Especially the interview. Each time you do an interview, you get a little better.” Taylor Riannon Young of Wetumpka, who won the title of Miss January in last year’s pageant, said the experience helped her build skills she will use for the rest of her life. “The interview portion is just like going for a job,” she said. Every entrant wins a title and a trophy. Seasonal and monthly titles are awarded, and photographs of the entrants will be featured throughout the year in the pages of The Outlook. Each entrant also will be photographed by professional photographer Kenneth Boone, and the photos will be featured in the pageant calendar. The pageant is open to girls aged 4 through high

school senior, and entry is not based on geographical boundaries. Girls from Elmore, Tallapoosa and Coosa counties especially are encouraged to register. Smith said the social aspect of the pageant helps bring young women of all backgrounds together. “You build long lasting relationships with other contestants. One of my best friends I met in a pageant,” she explained. Applications are now available at the offices of Tallapoosa Publishers, Inc., (TPI), located at 300 Green St. in Wetumpka, 301 Gilmer Ave. in Tallassee and 548 Cherokee Rd. in Alexander City. Completed forms should be returned to a TPI office with the $150 registration fee by Jan. 8, 2016. Each participant is allowed two sponsors to cover their entry fees. Sponsors can be commercial or individual and will be listed in the pageant program and announced during each entrant’s on-stage introduction. Each entrant also will receive one complementary ticket to the pageant. Additional tickets can be purchased at the door for $8 each. Event schedule and details will be announced in the coming weeks. For questions or additional information, contact Smith at 256-276-9772 or Susanne Hayes at 256825-2668 or email susanneh1210@gmail.com.

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2016 at the Movies Another year is already upon us, and the busy movie awards season will be rolling out in the coming weeks. As the year 2015 prepares to get “Golden Globed” and “Oscared,” what can moviegoers look forward to during 2016?

Remakes and Retreads

Jeff Langham

MOVIE MAN Dr. Jeff Langham is State Assistant Superintendent for External and

Governmental Affairs and a lifelong lover of film.

The Jungle Book – A live action rendition of the 1967 animated classic featuring all of the beloved characters: Mowgli, Kaa, Shere Khan, King Louie, Baloo and Bagheera. Going in Style – A remake of the popular 1979 George Burns film with Zach Braff directing the unusual story of three retirees who plan a bank heist. Tarzan – Here is yet another Tarzan for a new generation, brought to you by Harry Potter director David Yates. Ghostbusters – This version features an all-female crew – Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Cecily Strong, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, with cameos from original cast members Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Annie Potts. A surefire blockbuster! Pete’s Dragon – I loved the 1977 Disney original, and I still swoon every time Helen Reddy sings Candle on the Water. Movie icon Robert Redford joins the cast this time around. I can’t wait! The Magnificent Seven – Director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, Southpaw) ignites the screen with the popular Chris Pratt and Denzel Washington in this remake of the 1960 classic. Jumanji – This is being described as a “re-imagining” of the 1995 Robin Williams classic. Just “imagine” what this new version will be like!

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A Marvelous Dose of Superheroes Doctor Strange − The always-fascinating Benedict Cumberbatch is joined by the always-fascinating Tilda Swinton in this comic book classic featuring a surgeon turned superhero. Gambit – Yet another Marvel adventure, this one featuring Channing Tatum in the title role. When I first heard about this film, I thought it was a remake of the 1966 Shirley MacLaine/Michael Caine heist comedy that I enjoyed as a child. How unhip I am! Captain American: Civil War continues the story of Avengers: Age of Ultron and pits Iron Man Robert Downey, Jr. against Captain America’s Chris Evans. X-Men: Apocalypse has fans rejoicing as director Bryan Singer will be returning to the franchise. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Half Shell – Need I say more? Deadpool – Marvel Comics presents a not-for-thekiddies superhero with Ryan Reynolds taking the lead in this mayhem-filled adventure. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice – Director Zack Snyder (Man of Steel) now provides two superheroes for the price of one: Henry Cavill (Superman) and Ben Affleck (Batman). I was not a fan of Snyder’s Man of Steel, so maybe the second time here will be the charm for me.

A Series of Series London Has Fallen – If you loved the action pic Olympus Has Fallen, here is more of the same with returning stars Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart. Amityville: The Awakening – The Amityville Horror franchise is almost 40 years old and keeps going strong. I still have vivid memories of the creepiness of seeing the original film back in 1979. The Divergent Series continues with Allegiant with its heroine, Shailene Woodley, back in fine form. Independence Day: Resurgence – More alien Armageddon featuring many popular faces (Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Judd Hirsch and more) from the 1996 original blockbuster. Ice Age: Collision Course – This is number four in the series, one that shows that Scrat and his friends are in no danger of experiencing a “cool reception” from audiences. Star Trek Beyond – This space adventure has been successfully reinvented so many times that it is easy to lose count. Bridget Jones’s Baby – Renee Zellweger reprises her role as charming Brit, Bridget Jones, as she faces her 40s.

Blockbusters from the Bookshelves Pride and Prejudice and Zombies – Jane Austen will be rolling over in the grave – literally – upon the release of this film. Me Before You – Based on Jojo Moyes’ wildly popular bestseller, the story centers on a girl who forms an unlikely bond with a recently paralyzed man. Same Kind of Different as Me – Based on one of my favorite books of recent years, this story deals with the inspirational friendship between a modern-day slave and an international art dealer. The Girl on the Train – From Tate Taylor, director of The Help, The Girl on the Train is based on author Paula Hawkins’ runaway hit. This mystery thriller produces the same kind of jaw-dropping shocks and surprises provided by Gone Girl a couple of years ago. Inferno – Tom Hanks continues the adventures of The DaVinci Code’s Robert Langdon. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back – Tom Cruise returns as Lee Child’s popular character.

A Big Case of “Sequel-itis” “Sequel-itis” is alive and well in 2016 at the multiplex. A dream cast of comic superstars populate the long awaited Zoolander 2 with Ben Stiller as the riotous lead joined again by Owen Wilson and featuring Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill and Kristen Wiig. My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 – Nia Vardalos has not been able to recapture the magic from the first Wedding film that she scripted back in 2002. Since that time, she has written a slew of forgettable flicks (Connie and Carla, My Life in Ruins) as well as an ill-conceived, shortlived TV show – My Big Fat Greek Life. Maybe her luck will change with this revisit to her successful formula. And in case these sequels whet your appetite for more, the other follow-up films include: God’s Not Dead 2, Neighbors 2, The Conjuring 2, Ouija 2, The Nut Job 2, Ride Along 2, Barbershop 3, The Purge 3 and Kung Fu Panda 3. I am especially excited about the sequel to Disney’s classic Finding Nemo entitled Finding Dory featuring the hilarious Ellen Degeneres. These are just a few of the movie treats headed to your local multiplex in 2016. Get ready for a stellar year in movie entertainment. I’ll see you at the movies next year.

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Unsung Hero

George Saylor flew the "Aluminum Trail" across the Himalayas at the end of World War II

Jacob Saylor

THE GAMER Video games journalist

Jacob Saylor

has covered the massive

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles. Follow Jacob on Twitter @skulldrey.

In the great pantheon of video games, there are hosts of heroes and heroines. Some of these protagonists are even based on real counterparts; however, gaming – more often than not – is a storytelling medium for fiction. This month, we take our gaming column down a path based more in sometimes frightening reality, rather than the pixelated worlds that we gamers have come to love so dearly. We belong to a generation that (at least so far) is without a great, physical war. While modern society is embroiled with terrorism, drugs and other sordid things, my grandparents survived that 1940s scuffle known in history books as World War II. Though I’d grown up with their war stories, I sat down with Papa and Mawee for a refresher. George Saylor was born in the rip-roaring year of 1921 in backwoods Kentucky, and at a young age, he fostered dreams of flight. For people in a little Kentucky town, Papa recounted, talking on the phone was perhaps the most fun to be had, trumped by only one occurrence, and that was the sound and spectacle of an aircraft soaring overhead. “When you’re talking on the telephone, if you hear an airplane coming over, a lot of people in town that had a telephone would say ‘There’s an

airplane coming, okay – goodbye’ until the airplane gets past,” he said. “Sometimes they’d just leave the telephone hanging there and go outside and watch the airplane.” To follow his childhood dreams, Papa acquired a pilot’s license while attending East Tennessee State University. After graduation, he joined the Army Air Corps. He was sent to the San Antonio Aviation Cadet Center (now known as Lackland Air Force Base) and began training to become a military pilot. “Every cadet out there was scared he wouldn’t make it,” said Papa, smiling – grateful that he had been “good enough to get there.” After passing all his tests, Saylor swapped roles and started administering the tests. “I was an Air Force instructor. That’s all there really is to say about it,” he said. It wasn’t until 1944 that my grandfather was called to serve in World War II. While this was only one year before the war’s conclusion, his assignment papers no less carried a very real and imposing message: George was ordered to fly “The Hump,” a route that sent supplies from China to India – and vice versa – via the treacherous Himalayan Mountains. Hump pilots had to fly so high that their engines sometimes iced over, presenting one of the most deadly obstacles of the

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“Now the Chinese would go – and this would sound like job's assignment. you can’t imagine – the Chinese would go out there and try The Hump was a massive, war-winning operation that to catch ‘em,” Papa said. “I wouldn’t try to catch a 50-pound utilized more than 1,100 aircraft and 35,000 military personbag of something, but they would.” nel – for real. These were not just digitized images. His next story demonstrated a very clear, stark contrast to The supply planes – mostly C-47 Skytrains – were unarmed, which made the journey all the more dangerous. The the fun and good times of world travel. Saylor encountered a Japanese also occupied squadron of Zeroes that the route, and at the time, George and Patti Saylor at their home in Millbrook were nearly 500 miles they were winning airaway from their home based battles, gigantically base. In a life or death due to their exceptional decision, he elected to “Zero” fighters. At the fly his plane into some beginning of the war, clouds that were both Zero pilots had an avernearby and gargantuan, age kill-to-death ratio of knowing that the smaller 12 to one. Zeroes were likely unable Papa was positioned to pursue him for a long in Calcutta, India, before period of time without his first foray over the running out of fuel. Himalayas. “You got to be for“I think anybody and tunate enough to have everyone who first flew some clouded help. You the Hump had a ‘Good can’t just run across a God, what am I doing cloud and think that ‘Oh here?’ feeling. When boy, it’ll take care of me.’ you’re starting across that You go out of it as fast as thing with one engine in you go into it. That’s not it, and you’re thinking a comfortable feeling if ‘What if something fails there’s fighters in the area, here?’ And it never did ‘cause I was in there in a for me,” he remembered. slow-moving cargo airThe area below routes craft, and it was great for used on The Hump you unless you’re being became known as the attacked.” “Aluminum Trail,” and Eventually, Papa and yes – the reason for that is his crew flew out of the as grim as you’re probcloud unscathed. The ably expecting. Zeroes were gone, and “They called it the everyone was safe. Aluminum Trail because “We had a definite they had so many aircraft advantage by having that were lost from flying somebody that couldn’t stay there as long as we were,” Papa it because of weather or their own pilot error. That’s the best said. way to put it,” he said. “And you could see it, you know, for After some time, the efforts of George, his wife, Patti, and about every 20 miles or so you’d see a crashed aircraft.” Of those 1,100-plus aircraft that ventured across the Hima- other service members finally won the war. Discussion of layas, more than half – 594 – never returned. Every pilot who this particular moment in history brought my dear grandmother to tears. flew The Hump had a 50 percent chance of perishing. “I was delighted because I didn’t want him to get killed … When a pilot neared the drop point, he radioed his contact of the impending delivery and dropped the load, which usu- I didn’t,” Mawee said. Papa followed up with his own answer after offering brief ally was retrieved before the plane left the area. Load them consolation to Patti, noting that winning was “A great relief. up and drop them down. It meant I didn’t get shot at anymore.” Shipments included mail, cigarettes, alcohol, playing After his discharge, Papa sold insurance for four years cards and food, hot commodities among the native peoples.

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2016 Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony Tallassee Chamber of Commerce Guest Speakers: Mack & Ria Story

Topic: Key to Making an Impact

Thursday, January 21, 2016 6:00 pm Social, 7:00 pm Dinner & Program Wetumpka Civic Center, 410 S. Main St, Wetumpka Tickets must be purchased or reserved in advance. Call 334-283-5151 or go to www.Tallasseechamber.com

Open to Members and Non-Members Ticket Locations: WACQ, Tallassee Tribune, Chamber Office

until he was called to fly in the Korean War. He met the opportunity to return to the military with much enthusiasm, saying that leaving the service was a huge mistake. “I’d have probably been a general if I hadn’t ended up getting out,” said the man who held the rank of a full colonel when he left the service the first time. During this second stint in the military, he headed a top-secret squadron known as the “Cotton Pickers.” This group of men was most active in 1953-1954, though the details and assignments of this team were only revealed about 10 years ago. The organization’s 50year classification serves as testament to its importance. Through the Cotton Picker excursions, my grandfather and his team flew spy missions over Russia in an attempt to photograph Russian equipment and other weaponry. In the modern era, George and Patti live quietly in Millbrook, Alabama, with their dog, Tachi. They’ve earned their peace and are utilizing it to the largest extent possible. Papa is a living history book, having shaken hands with the likes of Richard Nixon and Chuck Yeager. He was offered the opportunity to be head of the Civil Air Patrol but turned it down. His storied career spans over 30 years, filled to the brim with stories that are larger than life. And certainly larger than any game that this generation might ever play.

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Eat your way to good health Turn the tables on obesity this holiday season

Kathy Monroe

COMMUNITY CARE Kathy Monroe is the Assistant to the

Administrator and the CFO at Community Hospital.

We began at Thanksgiving to eat our way through the Christmas season. Food is usually a central theme at family gatherings. Choices are not always healthy, and many of us put on a few pounds as a result; however, we need to look at a growing trend in America that is much deeper than overindulgence during the holidays. Obesity affects Americans of all ages, sexes and racial/ethnic groups. It is a serious health problem that has been growing for more than 30 years. It is ironic that, despite Americans’ obsession with being thin, we are actually getting heavier each year. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicate that onethird of U.S. adults are obese. That equates to 78.6 million adults in the U.S. Even more alarming, approximately 17 percent or 12.7 million U.S. children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years are obese. Yes, Americans are obsessed with appearance, but obesity is not a cosmetic concern. It can severely damage a person’s health and may increase risks for developing other conditions, including the following: High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which may lead to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke; Type 2 diabetes, now more frequently diagnosed in children as well as adults; Osteoarthritis occurs as extra weight creates more pressure on the joints; Certain cancers, including breast, colorectal, endometrial and prostrate cancer; Sleep apnea, which leads to fatigue and, in severe cases, heart disease; Depression prompted by poor self-image and low self-esteem, which are known to contribute to depression. An individual’s weight is a result of many factors, including environment, family history, metabolism, poor eating habits, lifestyle

choices and more. While some factors, such as family history, cannot be changed, others – including eating habits and lifestyle choices – can be changed. For most people, maintaining healthy weight involves eating less and exercising more. Here are some tips to help you: Reduce portion sizes: Avoid “super-sizing” meals at restaurants. Resist second helpings and put away extra food as soon as the meal is served. Eat nutrient-dense foods: Foods that offer a lot of nutrition and bulk but relatively few calories will help you feel full longer. Think of raw fruits and vegetables or a handful of almonds or walnuts. Avoid fatty and fried foods. Step up the activity: Incorporating physical activity into daily life can make a significant difference. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park further from the building and walk a little. Use an app on your phone to keep track of your daily steps. Watch less TV – this one will also help curb snacking tendencies. Be a good role model: If your children or grandchildren see you packing down the sweets and chips, they are likely to follow your bad example. Choose healthy snacks for yourself and provide them for your family as well. Encourage family activity time, such as hiking, bike rides, swimming, etc. Becoming overweight or obese happens one pound at a time. So does weight loss. Changing habits that are developed over a lifetime can be a very difficult task. Enjoy your holidays and all the good food, but instead of only taking a swipe at a New Year’s Resolution to lose those extra pounds, get serious about it. Setting a realistic weight loss goal is an important first step. And remember, you don’t have to do it alone. Contact a dietician or your healthcare provider for help.

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Coming Up CALENDAR OF EVENTS Now through Feb. 8 Call for Entries

The Coosa River Paddling Club invites artists to create and submit original art for the 2016 Coosa River White Water Festival Art & Design Competition. The theme for this year’s contest is “Woodstock!” Best of Show in this competition will be depicted on the Festival T-shirt and other publicity. Jurors will be looking for originality, technical skills, creativity and compatibility with the festival and theme. For complete rules, visit artquest.wix.com/ coosa-river-art.

Dec. 16-19 The Holiday Bug

Crosstitch Productions Puppet Troupe presents a puppet show for all ages at the Wetumpka Depot. The Holiday Bug is the story of Hiram and Gertrude Wool, two sheep trying to get ready for the holidays. When Hiram’s holiday selfishness causes their house to be infested by a terrible insect called the Humbug, he and Gertrude must call on their animal friends to help them save their home. Tickets are $7. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, visit www.wetumpkadepot.com.

Dec. 18 Millbrook Chamber of Commerce Christmas Open House

sic, Steel Magnolias, directed by Carol Thomaston Heier. Be prepared to tell a brief Southern story (less than two minutes), as well as read from the script. Auditions will be held at the theater at 300 S. Main St. at 2 p.m. Dec. 20 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21.

Dec. 20-22 Camp Chandler Christmas Camp

Children ages 5 to 14 are welcome for fishing, archery, riflery, canoeing, broom hockey, field games, pedal boats, putt putt, campfire with s’mores, holiday crafts, treats, tree trimming and more. YMCA members $105; nonmembers $120. For information, call 334-229-0035.

Dec. 21 A Christmas Gathering

The Tallassee Historical Preservation Society will host a gathering at the historic 1987 Superintendent’s House on lower Tuskegee Road at 6 p.m.

Dec. 23 Elmore County Seniors Christmas Party

The senior services, in conjunction with the Central Alabama Aging Consortium and Parks and Recreation of Prattville, will host a Christmas Ball for the senior citizens from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Stop in to share the joy of the season from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Millbrook Chamber of Commerce, 3540 Main Street, Millbrook.

Dec. 20 City of Wetumpka Children’s Christmas Party

Bring the children to the Wetumpka Civic Center for a delicious lunch provided by Wind Creek Hospitality’s ”Good to Go” food truck. After lunch, the children will go up onto the stage, and the staff from the Wetumpka Police Department and the City of Wetumpka will hand out gifts.

Dec. 20-21 Auditions for Steel Magnolias

Wetumpka Depot Players will hold auditions for the first show of their 36th season, the Southern clas-

Dec. 31 City of Wetumpka New Year’s Eve Celebration

Don’t miss the action in downtown Wetumpka on New Year’s Eve! Activities will start at 9 p.m. with a POW/

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MIA observance and torch ceremony on the grounds of the Old Elmore County Courthouse. There will be a DJ and concessions in the lower parking lot behind the Wetumpka Administration Building. The asteroid will fall at midnight, followed by fireworks. Bring tents, tables, chairs, blankets, fire pits, etc. This is a free family event.

Jan. 16 Slapout Strikeout 5K

Proceeds at this 5K walk/run and 1-mile Home Plate Dash will benefit the Holtville High Softball Team. Registration is $25 for 5K runners; $15 for 10 and under Home Plate Dash participants.

Jan. 16 Alice in Wonderland

Missoula Children’s Theatre will bring their production of Alice in Wonderland to the Tallassee High School Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. This whimsically madcap, fun-filled fantasy is entertainment for the whole family. Follow Alice as she wanders through a terrific adventure into the zany world of Wonderland, complete with truly unforgettable characters – white rabbits, mad hatters, homicidal queens and a misguided jabberwocky! Can Alice save them all? Or is this just a dream? Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children. For information, call Mona Mills at 334-201-4892.

Jan. 25 Taste of Elmore County

entered in a prize drawing. There will be routes for every running level. Medals will be given to all age ranges in male and female categories. For more information, call 334-285-4114.

Feb. 18-21 & 25-28 Lil’ Abner

The Millbrook Community Players present a fun-filled musical comedy based on the classic comic strip. Trouble begins in the cornseed town of Dogpatch, USA, when the government decides to wipe it off the map. Hilarious protests and a riotous Sadie Hawkins Day chase ensue. Li’l Abner is packed with one showstopping dance after another! Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26 and 27 and 2 p.m. on Feb. 21 and 28. For information or tickets, visit www.millbrooktheater.com.

Season-Long Events Electronics Recycling

On the first Saturday of each month, electronic items for recycling are accepted at the Wetumpka Recycling Center on East Charles Avenue. There is a $10 fee to recycle tube televisions; other electronics incur no charge. Come from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Other accepted electronics include computers, monitors, cell phones, chargers, modems, remotes, printers, batteries and more.

Blue Grass Jam, Sit and Scrap and Sit and Sew

Elmore County Food Pantry will benefit from this annual community-wide event at the Wetumpka Civic Center from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 each and are available at the food pantry.

All three activities are held on the first Saturday of each month from 9 am. to 12 p.m. at the Alabama River Region Arts Center in Wetumpka. All acoustic instruments and skill levels are welcome at the Bluegrass Jam. Scrappers and papercrafters are encouraged to attend Sit and Scrap. All sewers and knitters are welcome at Sit and Sew. For complete details, call 334-578-9485 or visit www. arrac.org.

Jan. 30 Millbrook Revelers Mardi Gras Festival and Parade

Santuck Flea Market

It’s Mardi Gras time! Don’t miss the party on the festival grounds with rides for the kids and vendors at the Village Green in downtown Millbrook. Activities start at 9 a.m. with the parade at noon.

Feb. 6 7th Annual Millbrook Mardi Gras Run

There will be 5K, 8K and 1-mile runs (or walks). “Phantom” non-runners can also participate. This event will be held at Camp Grandview YMCA and includes inflatables and games during the entire event. Every pre-registered participant will recieve a T-shirt and be

The Santuck Flea Market is held the first Saturday of each month at 73300 Central Plank Rd., Highway 9 in Wetumpka.

Children’s Harbor Thrift Store

Located at Children’s Harbor at Lake Martin on Highway 63, the Children’s Harbor Thrift Store is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You never know what gems you might find – from clothes and household items to boats. Proceeds are used to help fund the activities at the Lake Martin campus of Children’s Harbor and the Family Center at Children's Hospital. Call 334-857-2008 for information.

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OUT & ABOUT

An Eclectic Christmas December 1-8, 2015 Falk Farm

1. Lindsay Mothershed, Roger Collins and Steve Maynard 2. David Jones 3. Libbye McGhee, Eloise Josey, Harriette Spigner and Priscilla Park 4. Chase and Rebecca Crug 5. Crystal, Chriss, Annaleigh, Lucas and Elias

Collins 6. Darlene Salvason, Andee Duett, Billie and Steve Tomberlin, Ellen Hamilton, Cindy Hutto, Eddie Duett, Bob Hutto, Jim Salvason and Joe Hamilton

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Tallassee Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade December 4-5, 2015

OUT & ABOUT

1. Cole Lightsey, Casey Hammock and Makinna Lightsey 2. Jessica and J.C. McGhee 3. Taylor Clayton, Austyn Thornton, Harley and Braylynn Clayton 4. Santa, Shannon Rangel, Kyler Parker and Cavion Rice 5. Lisa Wright and Sharon Reeves 6. Denise and David Buckner and Kat Raiford 7. Wesley Jimmerson, Samantha Gresham and Haley Craft 8. Ansley, Sandy, Landon and Josh Cullars 9. Dale and Betty Segrest 10. Emily and Rachel McElvaine with Santa 11. Gracie, Ava Smith and Zeus

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OUT & ABOUT

Tallassee Community Thanksgiving November 22, 2015 Carville Baptist Church

1. Shelby Gunn 2. Bradley and Brice Smith 3. Madilynn Chambliss 4. Kelsey Strong 5. Devon and Jessie Bledsoe and family 6. Suzy Ankers, Donna Williams and Mary Slatton 7. Katelyn Raiford 8. Amelia Nicholas 9. Wanda Day, Glenda Parker and Rhonda Peaden

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OUT & ABOUT

Wetumpka Tree Lighting

December 1, 2015 Gold Star Park 1. Justin Tea 2. Brandon and Callie Wright 3. Jason Morgan and George Ganjei 4. Maddison Baldwin and Lilyan Jones

5. Cassie and Lindsey White

6. Augenee, Liam, Kyle and Arya Hayward 7. Layken Morgan and Janet Cox 8. Santa and Erica Flowers 9. Haley and Cameran Baker, Betty Stricker and Javita Baker with Ms. Molly (horse) 10. Ed Gumpf and Robert Siliwowski

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Business & Service Directory End of Year

Buy 1-Get 1 Deals 50% off Throught store

The Humane Society Of Elmore County

255 Central Plank Road • Wetumpka, AL 334-567-3377 hselco@bellsouth.net

Pick up Elmore County Living at these locations: Eclectic

Eclectic Town Hall Moose's Eclectic Library Johnson’s Furniture Tropical Tan Zone First Community Bank

Lake Martin

Russell Lands Russell Marine Nail’s Cotton’s BBQ

Millbrook

Verizon Wireless First Community Bank Lucretia Cauthen Realty Bliss Salon Millbrook Chamber of Commerce Realty Central Stone & Britt Law Gene Jones Insurance

Montgomery

Publix – Atlanta Highway

Publix – Zelda Rd Publix - Vaughn Rd Publix - Taylor Rd

Prattville

Publix – Cobbs Ford Road

Slapout

Lake Pharmacy The Golden Frog The Boy’s Store First Community Bank

Tallassee

Kent Eagle Y Petro Parker Tire RoadRunner Herron Hill Pharmacy Friendship Grocery The Apothecary Community Hospital Tallassee Health & Rehab 5 Points Store Ben Atkinson Motors

Wetumpka

Bennett’s Archery First Community Bank Russell Do It Center Bumper’s Karen’s Mane Tamers River Ridge Steakhouse Emerald Mountain Store Redland Market Seivers Accounting Wetumpka Depot Players A Touch of Class Angel Locksmith Verizon Wireless Unplugged Must Stop Café Alfa Realty Wetumpka Century 21 Brandt Wright Realty Wachovia Bank BB&T Jackson Thornton Lee’s Auto Repair Southeastern Business Printers Hankins Insurance Hog Rock BBQ Wetumpka YMCA

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Adams Drugs Bell Chiropractic Wetumpka Urgent Care Aliant Bank A Beautiful Creation Austin’s Flowers Camo Country Alabama State Employees Credit Union Smokin S BBQ Elmore Community Hospital Wetumpka Preschool Wetumpka City Library Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce City of Wetumpka Administration Bldg. Coosa River Adventures Stoddard’s Bait Shop Collier Ford The Prissy Hen Wee Ones Daycare Wetumpka Health & Rehab Canal Grocery Kim’s Corner

Our Advertisers â&#x20AC;˘ To Join, Call 334-567-7811 Alabama State Employee Credit Union...........................................................................2 3 City of Wetumpka......................................................................................................................2 Collier Ford.................................................................................................................................1 9 Community Hospital................................................................................................................3 Cousins Insurance.....................................................................................................................5 Elmore County Hospital........................................................................................................2 3 Holley's Home Furnishings..................................................................................................5 6 Gassett Funeral Home.............................................................................................................5 Gene Jones Insurance............................................................................................................4 4 Jackson Thornton....................................................................................................................5 3 Karen's Mane Tamers.............................................................................................................5 2 Kowaliga Whole Health.........................................................................................................5 2 Lake Martin Hospice........................................................................................................................ 1 9 Mark's Service Center & Body Shop, Inc........................................................................................1 9 Tallassee Chamber of Commerce....................................................................................................4 4 Tallassee Health & Rehab, LLC.............................................................................................2 3 The Gab.......................................................................................................................................5 2

Don't see your ad in this issue of Elmore County Living? Neither did the thousands of potential customers who read our magazine monthly. To advertise please contact Jayne Carr At 334-567-7811 or stop by our office located at 300 Green Street, Wetumpka AL 36092

The Humane Society of Elmore County..........................................................................5 2 Wetumpka Health & Rehabilitation LLC..........................................................................1 9

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Forget sugarplums. Eggnog dances in my head.

M.K. Moore

SOUTHERN DELIGHTS Mary Katherine Moore is an Alabama State Fair pepper jelly

champion, has butchered a wild hog in

her kitchen and grows

heirloom to-

matoes in her backyard.

in their nog. Without the Nothing says “ChristEggnog germicidal properties of mas” to me more than alcohol, I needed a way eggnog. It’s not hard 4 cups whole milk to make the eggs safe. to imagine that agrar2 cups heavy cream Although cooked eggian people had access 1 teaspoon vanilla nog is not historically to milk and eggs, but ½ teaspoon nutmeg accurate, the accompain the Middle English 6 egg yolks nying recipe errs on the world, sugar was a 1 cup sugar side of caution. treat, so “milk punch” ½ carton pasteurized egg whites Basically, eggnog is a was reserved for special Cheer (rum, bourbon or brandy) custard mix. Eggs, cream occasions. and sugar. The frothy, Alcohol was served Mix milk, cream, vanilla and nutmeg into light (and yes, eggnog is in a cup called a “nog.” a large pot. Heat on low until small bubbles supposed to light, unlike Alcohol also acted appear at the edges. Do not boil. While waitthe congealed carton as a preservative, with ing for the milk to heat, mix sugar and egg version) consistency some folks mixing up yolks together in a bowl. Really whisk them comes from adding the eggs and milk they well. Add hot milk to eggs a quarter of a cup whipped egg whites had in the fall with a at a time and whisk into eggs before adding to the chilled custard. lot of “cheer” that kept another quarter cup. When half of the milk has What? Raw eggs, you the mixture drinkable been added to the eggs, pour it all back into say? Didn’t we just ban through the long cold the pot. Cook on low heat, stirring constantly raw eggs? We did! You winters. But don’t try until the mixture thickens. Cool and chill. can get a carton of pasthis. We have refrigeraWhen ready to serve, beat egg whites until teurized egg whites and tors now. stiff and fold gently into the chilled custard. whip away without fear In our modern world, Add cheer and top with a little more nutmeg, if of poisoning anyone. the art of the eggnog desired. Makes 12 servings. You can make this has sunk to the milkrecipe the day before carton containers in the company comes. It will dairy aisle. What used keep three days in the fridge. If you add “cheer,” to be a freshly made libation is now thick, artifiyou can keep it for up to a week. But hide it from cially flavored glop. the kids! I beg you. If you are going to spend upward The trickiest part is the custard. Don’t rush, or of 400 calories, it is worth it – oh, so worth it – to you will end up with scrambled eggs. Once you make your eggnog from scratch. have heated the cream, temper the eggs by spoonMy research into eggnog started when Sweeting a little of the cream into the egg and sugar heart gifted me the most beautiful and unusual bowl. This will start to warm up the eggs. punchbowl set I had ever seen. The bowl is Keep spooning cream and stirring the eggs much smaller than usual, and the cups have no until half of the cream is in the egg bowl. Then, handles. Turns out, the set was it’s safe to pour all the eggs back in the cream pot. made specifically for eggnog. Heat gently until the mixture thickens. What does And I wanted to fill it with this mean? This means that the custard mixture the best eggnog ever, so I is never going to be super thick, like gravy or the started experimenting. custard you make for banana pudding, but it will Here is what I found. coat the back of a spoon. Chill the eggnog for at Raw eggs make me a little nervous, and not everyone least for a few hours. Merry Christmas! likes “cheer,” aka booze,

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Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Let Holleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be your Destination 60 Months Interest Free Financing*

*See store for details.

256.234.4141 Alexander City 56

334.279.3101 Montgomery

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